Series: Lia de Croissets # 2
Format: Kindle, 531 pages
Release Date: January 14, 2026
Publisher: Karen Chance
Source: Amazon
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Someone is trying to kidnap the leader of the Were world, Sebastian Arnou, and it’s not hard to figure out who. The powerful Clan Rand just lost their chieftain, who challenged for the top spot and lost—both the fight and his life. Now his clan is out for revenge and has split the Were community in two.
To make matters worse, Rand has allied with the dangerous mages of the Black Circle, who have already plunged the magical world into war. One of the organization’s leaders has taken an interest in Lia de Croissets, a newly turned werewolf. As a member of the War Mage Corps, the police branch of the world’s leading magical organization, the Silver Circle, she stands against the dark, but the mage’s interest appears to be more personal.
In fact, the kidnapping attempt on Sebastian and later moves against Lia’s new little clan all appear to be geared toward getting something from her. But she has no idea what the mage wants, or why she and her clan of former outlaw wolves should be of such interest to the dark. And once she finds out, the answer could change not only Lia’s own life, but the course of the entire war.
Weird Magic is the second installment in author Karen Chance's Lia de Croissets series. This story takes place in the same universe as the author's Cassie Palmer series. This novel picks up after Junk Magic and dives deeper into a world of warring magical factions, werewolf politics, and high-stakes action. The story centers on Lia de Croissets, a newly turned werewolf and member of the War Mage Corps (the enforcement arm of the powerful Silver Circle).
Lia is still adjusting to her dual nature as both a mage and a wolf, leading a ragtag clan of former outlaws known as Clan Fireborn. The plot kicks off with a clear threat: someone is targeting Sebastian Arnou, the leader of the Were world, with the vengeful Clan Rand (allied with the villainous Black Circle mages) as the obvious culprits. This kidnapping scheme quickly escalates into broader attacks on Lia's clan, and it becomes apparent that a high-ranking dark mage has a very personal—and mysterious—interest in Lia herself.
What does he want from her? The answer ties into ancient magic, family secrets, and the ongoing war that's tearing the supernatural world apart. The magic here is vivid, unpredictable, and delightfully weird (as the title promises), blending traditional spellcraft with werewolf instincts, lost abilities that Lia is rediscovering, and chaotic battle sequences involving everything from live zombies to explosive magical duels. The interconnected universe shines through with well-timed cameos from familiar faces in the Cassandra Palmer and Dorina Basarab series.
Lia is a compelling protagonist: fierce, funny, gritty, and deeply human despite her supernatural upgrades. Her growth in mastering new (or ancient) skills adds heart to the spectacle, while her clan dynamics with Cyrus provide strong found-family vibes, complete with believable kids, trauma, love, and hope amid the grimness. The chemistry between characters grounds the chaos, and there's plenty of laughter, sorrow, violence, and emotional weight to balance the spectacle. However, there is a constant flaw: Lia's habit of ending up unconscious at key moments might frustrate those who want her to stay in control longer, though it fits her underdog arc.
Unfortunately, this book came out 4 years after the first book in the series, which in my opinion, is way too long. I would recommend to readers that you try to read Junk Magic and Weird Magic back to back so that you don't get confused by who the characters are, from kids tossed away by the Mage schools, to Were's tossed away by their former clans. I would love to see another crossover, this time with Lia and Dory. I think fans would love that mash-up!
No comments:
Post a Comment